Lesser Told Stories of Slavery
Slavs, Blackbirding, and Malik Ambar
Sometimes I get interested in topics that are less pleasant than meditation. Here’s a few stories related to slavery that surprised me when I learned about them.
Slavs and Slaves
The striking similarity between the English word slave and the name for the Slavic people is more than a mere coincidence. This resemblance extends across various European languages: esclavo in Spanish, schiavo in Italian, Sklave in German, esclave in French, σκλάβος in Greek. What might be the underlying connection here?
As uncomfortable as this may be for some, especially those of Slavic descent like me, during the Middle Ages, Slavs were so frequently found among enslaved populations that their very name became synonymous with bondage.
It's essential to clarify that this isn't an indication of racial prejudices in the way we might conceive them today. The Middle Ages did not witness the classification of Slavs as an inferior race deserving of enslavement. That came much, much later. Instead, various factors contributed to their plight.
First, the Church's objection to enslaving fellow Christians didn't apply to the Slavs, as they were predominantly pagans at the time. This made them acceptable targets for enslavement. Additionally, the Slavic people were not united, rendering them susceptible to capture not only by neighboring groups but also by other Slavs.
War and raiding were common sources of slaves during this period, and the fragmented nature of Slavic territories made them prime targets.
Slavery was not merely a grim aspect of Medieval society; it was a significant industry. Some historians argue that the slave trade was a vital economic engine, possibly even a catalyst for the growth of the European economy during the Middle Ages. While slave labor within Europe was relatively rare, with serfs often preferred, slaves were primarily exported to the Muslim world. In this exchange, people were traded for silver, creating a lucrative market.
Cities like Prague, Venice, Dublin, and Verdun (now picturesque destinations for travelers) hosted some of the most substantial slave markets in medieval Europe.
For those interested in delving deeper into this subject, here's a comprehensive video that offers much more detail:
Writing in the Pacific?
Writing is, without question, one of humanity's greatest inventions. Yet, it's a complex concept, and its independent creation is a rare occurrence. Egyptians, Sumerians, Chinese, Maya—all innovators. But what about Rapa Nui, or Easter Island?
Rongorongo might be a script, an extraordinary example of independent writing. It remains a mystery, however, as described in this fascinating article. This potential achievement in writing, a glimmer of intellectual triumph, has been overshadowed by tragic events that might have eradicated any understanding of it.
The 1862 Peruvian slaving raid and a subsequent tuberculosis epidemic are considered crucial factors in erasing the knowledge of Rongorongo. These events were not isolated incidents but part of a larger pattern that engulfed the Pacific during that period.
A practice known as Blackbirding became widespread, particularly during the American Civil War, when there was a global shortage of cash crops like cotton. This involved coercive recruitment of laborers from various Pacific islands. The practice extended to Rapa Nui, leaving a dark shadow on its cultural history.
Blackbirding was not merely a recruitment but often involved kidnapping, deception, and coercion. "Recruiters" would visit islands under false pretenses, such as acting as traders or missionaries, luring or forcibly taking indigenous people to work in far-off lands. Conditions were brutal, and the victims were bound to contracts they couldn't understand, with little chance of returning home.
The death rates in Blackbirding were horrifyingly similar to what happened in the transatlantic slave trade. Many indigenous people did not survive the journey or the harsh working conditions that awaited them.
This wave of exploitation led to significant depopulation in certain islands, tearing apart communities and families. It's conceivable that cultural knowledge, traditions, and even unique achievements like Rongorongo were lost or severely altered due to these tragic events.
From Slave to Statesman in India
Malik Ambar's story is a remarkable tale of resilience, intelligence, and unexpected triumph. Born in 1548 as Chapu to the peaceful Oromo tribe in Ethiopia, he was either captured or sold by his parents into slavery.
His journey as a slave took him across lands and cultures. From the highlands of Central Ethiopia, he was transported to the Port of Mocha in Yemen, then to Baghdad, and finally to the Deccan Plateau in India. His intelligence caught the eye of his successive owners, each recognizing and nurturing his potential.
First sold in Yemen for 20 ducats, Chapu, later renamed Ambar, meaning "the intelligent one," was educated by his owner Kassim in Baghdad. Kassim, recognizing Ambar's potential, prepared him as an educated slave to be sold at a higher price in India. The investment in Ambar's education included languages, sciences, and warfare.
Upon arriving in the Ahmadnagar Sultanate, Ambar was sold to Chengiz, a Minister in the Royal Court, at a time when India was a hotbed of intrigues, uprisings, and kingdom rivalries. It was a turbulent era, with the increasingly aggressive Moghul Empire looming over the Deccan Plateau.
In 1576, a violent succession dispute led to Chengiz's death, and his will granted Ambar freedom. Now free, Ambar embarked on a new path, moving South to Bijapur, where he started a mercenary army. He became a commander, a strategist, a unifier of Deccan Kingdoms against the Moghuls, and a political mastermind.
Ambar's life was filled with audacious acts and power plays, casually replacing kings when they became inconvenient. He built his own city, Khirki, described by contemporaries as a place of beauty, with palaces, fountains, and gardens.
Perhaps the most stunning twist in his story was his reaction to betrayal by the king he had installed. When accusations against his daughter emerged, he coolly poisoned the king and placed his grandson on the throne.
Even the Emperor of the Moghuls, his arch nemesis, couldn't help but praise Malik Ambar, a slave from Africa who died peacefully in 1626, having left an indelible mark on the history of India.
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